Why buy a Ducati?

Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77.DeleteThis@spamgourmet.com wrote:
 > Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm actually
 > looking for real thoughts.
 >
 > Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 > interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 > really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 > until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 > "middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 > either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 > big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Next up, the specs. Nothing really awesome here either. Once again, the Big
 > Four offer pretty much the same specs, with some better and some worse.
 > We'll call this one "Neutral" on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Finally, the price. You can't be serious! You could two or three Big Four
 > 600s for the same price. This was the end of the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 > It didn't pass the laugh test.
 >
 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.
 >
 > Any Thoughts?


You haven't ridden a 749S on the track.
Believe me it is an AMAZING bike.


Andrew
00 Daytona
00 Speed Triple<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.

I bought a Ducati for fair price when I toured the Ducati Museum in Italy...
a 1:12 model of the Desmosedici... I have it sitting on my desk to remind
me when this V4 gets in the hands of the public in 2006... it will
effectively lay waste every V2 and I4 in production... I guarantee it...
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27408&item=6935510122&rd=1" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=27408&item=6935...122&rd=</a>

 > Any Thoughts?
There's a V4 in your future...
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_04_ducati_desmo_rr/" target="_blank">http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_04_ducati_desmo_rr/</a>

Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/" target="_blank">http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/" target="_blank">http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.fox302.com/index.pl?s=vg&user=netters2" target="_blank">http://www.fox302.com/index.pl?s=vg&user=netters2</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77 DeleteThis @spamgourmet.com wrote:
 > Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm actually
 > looking for real thoughts.
 >
 > Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 > interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 > really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 > until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 > "middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 > either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 > big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Next up, the specs. Nothing really awesome here either. Once again, the Big
 > Four offer pretty much the same specs, with some better and some worse.
 > We'll call this one "Neutral" on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Finally, the price. You can't be serious! You could two or three Big Four
 > 600s for the same price. This was the end of the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 > It didn't pass the laugh test.
 >
 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.
 >
 > Any Thoughts?

I think they're ugly. Wait until you get the bill on that valve
adjustment for adjusting a valve train which was obsolete in 1978, but
which the dopey Italians insist on inflicting on imbiciles who buy these
things.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

<Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77 RemoveThis @spamgourmet.com> wrote in message
news:LoSdnY2Ck-NLTgXcRVn-vA@giganews.com...
 > Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm
actually
 > looking for real thoughts.
 >
 > Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 > interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 > really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 > until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 > "middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 > either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 > big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Next up, the specs. Nothing really awesome here either. Once again, the
Big
 > Four offer pretty much the same specs, with some better and some worse.
 > We'll call this one "Neutral" on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Finally, the price. You can't be serious! You could two or three Big Four
 > 600s for the same price. This was the end of the "maybe I'll get one"
chart.
 > It didn't pass the laugh test.
 >
 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.
 >
 > Any Thoughts?

Why not post this question to the Ducati NG?

someone2<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

I looked at Ducatis as well, specifically the Monster series. I have not
ridden one, but surely the V-Twin sound, feel, and power band will either be
worth a lot, or perhaps nothing to you. I rode a modified Aprilia Tuono,
and I loved the V-twin characteristics and would pay extra for it. A
personal choice. I ruled the Ducati out due to the ridiculous maintenance
cost, and also the somewhat disjointed appearance of the Monster series. In
addition, the riding position was unnatural for me. The 749 is hopeless for
my 51 year old body.

The Aprilia Tuono I rode was lighter and slightly faster than my Kawasaki
ZRX1200R, but the riding experience was waaaay more exciting on the Tuono.
The Japanese Kawasaki is smooth, fast, and still able to be as docile as a
pussycat. The Tuono (with the aftermarket exhaust) was booming, brutal in
acceleration, and wants to wheelie everywhere, especially if you twitch the
throttle in town or out of a slow corner. The Kawasaki is kind and refined,
while the Tuono is in your face, with attitude.

I can't say the 749 is that different from the 600s, but I can tell you spec
sheets leave a lot of the story untold. See my website, <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.philnotes.com," target="_blank">www.philnotes.com,</a>
for more info.

- Phil

<Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77.RemoveThis@spamgourmet.com> wrote in message
news:LoSdnY2Ck-NLTgXcRVn-vA@giganews.com...
 > Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm
 > actually
 > looking for real thoughts.
 >
 > Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 > interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 > really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 > until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 > "middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 > either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 > big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Next up, the specs. Nothing really awesome here either. Once again, the
 > Big
 > Four offer pretty much the same specs, with some better and some worse.
 > We'll call this one "Neutral" on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Finally, the price. You can't be serious! You could two or three Big Four
 > 600s for the same price. This was the end of the "maybe I'll get one"
 > chart.
 > It didn't pass the laugh test.
 >
 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.
 >
 > Any Thoughts?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 16:05:43 GMT,
Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77 RemoveThis @spamgourmet.com wrote:

 >So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati?

For the same reason why anyone buys any luxury good. You don't look
for value if you're in that market segment. You're looking for la
dolce vita and aren't afraid to pay for it. Sometimes it's because you
have money to burn and it isn't an issue, sometimes because you have
no self-esteem and are looking for some sort of public approval by
living beyond your means.

But back to the Ducati. Did you ride one? I did. I liked it. To use a
tired cliche, you can't ride a spec sheet. What works well on paper is
not necessarily the most exciting experience out there. The 999 was
lean, elegant and made all kinds of wonderful noises. Every time I
looked I noticed another nicely machined component as standard which
kinda makes the asking price seem like a pretty good deal. When
magazines start rating those attributes, maybe Ducati would land at
the top of the heap.

Speaking of heaps, my Speed Triple is about 50 lbs overweight, has a
substandard suspension and is down on power compared to virtually
every current inline. Yet I'll take a ride on the roaring triple over
a 600 supersport (which would kick the triple's ass on a track)
anytime.

I also have a dualsport. The specs on that are so fucking pathetic in
comparison to any Ducati. Yet I have a total blast every time I throw
a leg on it. Despite the wallowy suspension, 40-some horse motor and
curious rubber.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

 >Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77@spamgourmet.com

 >So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati?

Because Japanese sportbikes are like assholes, everybody has one?

Because they have ridden Ducatis before and love Ducatis?

Because they read in a motomag how great Ducatis are?

Because their friend bought a Ducati and they always dress just like their
friend and run out and buy whatever
brand of motorcycle their friend just bought?

Because they have a lot of money to spend and they collect Italian motorcycles
as mechanical *objets d'art*?

Because they don't care about how mechanically persnickety desmoquattro engines
are?

Because they like to whisper "desmoquattro* in their girlfriend's ear, during
foreplay?





# * 0 * #
^<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

Aloha,
I have limited experiance with Ducati's. One friend swears by his old 851,
another friend hates his 900 so bad he wants to burn it.
Alledgedly the valve adjustments are hellish expensive doe to the Demonic valve
train.
Both guys say that getting parts is really hard.
Let us know if you buy.

Take Care,
Larry
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 16:05:43 GMT,
Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77 DeleteThis @spamgourmet.com wrote:

 >Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm actually
 >looking for real thoughts.
 >
 >Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 >interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 >really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 >until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 >"middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 >either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 >big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.

The big four. Buell BMW Triumph and Moto guzzi?

Regards
Michael H. Fell<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 16:05:43 GMT,
Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77.RemoveThis@spamgourmet.com wrote:

 >Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm actually
 >looking for real thoughts.
 >
 >So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 >looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 >cheaper.
 >
 >Any Thoughts?

Sure, that's a great question. Everyone has opinions about the Tau of
motorcycling. After all, cages and mass transit are the "saner"
alternatives. I think there's a definite lack of sanity in this group
sometimes, not excluding yours truly.

The question's rhetorical. Your thoughts betray you, Luke: the final
paragraph implies you believe anyone making such a purchase must be a
little soft upstairs. Broaden your mind, think about style over
substance for a moment.

Seems to me, thumbing through Roadracing World the other day, several
Ducks (new 999R, e.g.) make legitimate claim to "performance
supremacy" in certain categories. Witness the Ducati Cup (err, I mean
World Superbike). Really, plenty of them are stellar track bikes and
that's worth a lot.

"Worth a lot" being the key phrase: they aren't cheap to own,
maintain, or race.

Now I think of Deerslayer riding a 749 at Portland this summer, with
Brutus. He gushed about it afterwards. Dollars-to-donuts a
middleweight twin with decent motor, aggressive riding position,
excellent suspension, and brilliant chassis is a farkin' riot around
the track. I'll need to try one sometime, m'self.

OK, that's the performance aspect. Pride-of-ownership, panache, etc.
are all immensely important to most Ducati owners. Those clever
Castaligioni (sp) brothers and their heirs built a carefully-managed
PR empire, backed with substantial racing success, since the brand's
resurgence beginning in the late 1980s (750 Paso, anyone?)

Almost no sportbike emotes so strongly as a rumbling Duck arriving to
the latest gathering. I'm reminded of the "Faster" premiere attended
by me, Deerslayer, and Tim L. last summer at Ducati Seattle: talk
about a gathering of slinky European style. And that, friends, is
worth a lot.

And if you don't grudgingly agree that's true, y'ain't been to many
Friday night gatherings of sportbikes at the local watering hole.

To turn the fastest laps on least budget, almost no one would choose a
Buell, Ducati, or MV Agusta. But damn, they'll sure look cool giving
their all. And that's all there is too it

'-----------------------------------------------------
' Daniel Bannon
' NW WA State, U.S.A.
' 2003 ZX636B Hercusaki, 1999 CBR1100XX
'-----------------------------------------------------<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

 >Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati?

Because it's Italian and red like a Ferrari

Because it's expensive like a Ferrari.

Did I mention it's Italian?

Not everbody can afford one, just like a Ferrari.

It looks sexy, like a Ferrari.

It spends as much time in the shop as a Ferrari.

Mechanics need to make a living too.

It's the ultimate pussy magnet.

Guess chicks like guys with heavy, underpowered bikes, which would also explain
the whole crusier phase so many people are going thru in the last few years.

Chad
2003 Bimota R1<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

You might buy a Ducati if you like having to replace your noisy, dry clutch
after 6000 miles!
Or like valve maintenance!


<Someguy.5.-nospam-janeway77 DeleteThis @spamgourmet.com> wrote in message
news:LoSdnY2Ck-NLTgXcRVn-vA@giganews.com...
 > Now I know you guys are going to thinking I'm kidding here, but I'm
 > actually
 > looking for real thoughts.
 >
 > Somebody mentioned in a post a while back the Ducati 749. It peaked my
 > interest, so I thought I'd see what this bike was all about. I had never
 > really looked at Ducati from a "maybe I'll get one someday" perspective
 > until now. When I checked the reviews, just about everybody gave the bike
 > "middle of the road" kinda reviews: not awesome, but certainly not bad
 > either. The Big Four makers blew it away in the reviews. This was a pretty
 > big strike on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Next up, the specs. Nothing really awesome here either. Once again, the
 > Big
 > Four offer pretty much the same specs, with some better and some worse.
 > We'll call this one "Neutral" on the "maybe I'll get one" chart.
 >
 > Finally, the price. You can't be serious! You could two or three Big Four
 > 600s for the same price. This was the end of the "maybe I'll get one"
 > chart.
 > It didn't pass the laugh test.
 >
 > So, my question is: Why in the world would anybody buy a Ducati? Sure it
 > looks nice, but if all you want are looks, you could buy a poster much
 > cheaper.
 >
 > Any Thoughts?<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati? 

 >From: Daniel Bannon

 >To turn the fastest laps on least budget, almost no one would choose a
 >Buell, Ducati, or MV Agusta.

Cept for maybe E. Boz and Neil Hodgson.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Why buy a Ducati?